Safety cigarette holder



A. JOHNSON 2,768,630

SAFETY CIGARETTE HOLDER Oct. 30, 1956 Filed Oct. 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheetl 26T-FE1- El/5 INVENTOR Oct. 30, 1356 A. JOHNSON 2,768,630

SAFETY CIGARETTE HOLDER Filed Oct. 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORr/ur Johnson ATT United States Patent i SAFETY CIGARETTE HOLDER ArthurJohnson, Brooklyn, N. Y.

ApplicationOctober 8, 1952, Serial No. 313,696?

7 Claims. (Cl. 131178) This invention relates to holders for cigaretteswhich are safe to use and which minimize iire hazards in smoking,'particularly hazards which are due to carelessness, inadverten, orsleeping of the user.

While prior attempts have been made to provide cigarette holders whichtend to make smoking in crowded conveyances either safer or not subjectto detection, such devices have depended on the alertness of the user tooperate mechanisms which bring `the various safety features intooperation, or they have incorporated therein insufiicient safetyprotection. Other disadvantages of such known cigarette holders havebeen their relative cumbersomeness, tendency to mechanical failure anddifficulty in manufacture.

It is an object of this invention to overcome the difficulties of priorcigarette holders and to provide safety -cigarette holders which aremechanically reliable, relatively inexpensive to manufacture andmaintain and which automatically guard against the carelessness of thesmoker. Other objects of the invention wi-ll be in part obvious and inpart pointed out hereinafter.

The features of the invention may perhaps best be understood andappreciated by reference to the -accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a specific embodiment of the inventionin use.

Figure 2 is 'a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention shownin Figure 1 when the barrel is in the safety or extended position withrespect to the tube to enclose a cigarette.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View looking in fr the direction ofarrows 3 3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view looking in the direction ofarrows 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 `is `a fragmentary plan view of the end of the cigarette holdershowing it in the use position.

Figure 6 is a plan view similar to Figure 5 but wherein the holder is inthe locked position.

Figure 7 is an axial cross sectional view of another embodiment of theinvention.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line V8-8 ofFigure 7.

Figure 9 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure7.

Figure l() is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 11 is a side view of still 'another embodiment of the invention;Vand Figure 12 is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of theinvention.

'Referring more particularly 'to Figures 1 through 6, the safetycigarette holder collectively designated `as 11 is shown 'in the lnormalsmoking position and in the safety Vposition where a cigarette 16 iswithin the barrel 15. As shown lin Figure l, in the normal smokingposition cigarette `16 protrudes from barrel 15 and the user holdsbarrel ,15 between the first two fingers lof his hand while exerting aslight pressure with his thumb against a flange 17 attached to t-hemouthpiece 14. The thumb pressure ice is exerted against the force of aninternal tension spring, described below. Figure 2 shows the eifect ofremoving the users fingers from either the iiange 17 or the barrel 15,namely the internal spring moves the barrel 15 away from the mouthpiece14 and smoke conducting ltube 20 so that the barrel encircles cigarette16, the lighted end 16a of the cigarette being withdrawn into the`barrel "to a position of safety against tire. To this end barrel 15ex'- tends at least as far as end 16a. Its cigarette encircling portionis therefore at least as long `as an unused cigarette.

Barrel 15 is provided with bayonet slot 22 which is adapted toaccommodate detent 18 which is xedlypositioned on smoke conducting tube20 adjacent to ange 17. Should the smoker' consciously desire toeliminate the automatic safety feature of the invention, he may movebarrel 15 close to flange 17, insert detent 18 in slot 22 and slightlyrotate barrel 15 with respect to smoke conducting tube 29 so that detent18 is secured in a lateral portion of slot 22, thereby in effect lockingbarrel 15 and mouthpiece 14 together.

Referring to the sectional views of Figures 3 and 4, it is seen that`the coiled tension spring 28 lies within barrel 15 and surrounds smokeconducting tube 20, being attached to smoke conducting tube 20 atcigarette receiving portion 24 and being attached at its opposite end toabutment 26 fixed within barrel 15. in Figure 4 the cigarette holder isshown in the safety position of Figure 2 wherein cigarette receivingportion 24 is drawn within barrel 15 by the tensile action of coilspring 28.

in Figures 5 and 6 the operation of the locking detent 1S in slot Z2 isshown in more detail. In Figure 5 the cigarette holder is in the safetysmoking position and detent 1S is in the axial or central portion ofslot 22. VIn this position should the smoker remove his thumb fromiiange 17, as shown in Figure l, the action of the spring movesmouthpiece 14 away from barrel 15 and draws the glowing end 16a ofcigarette 16 within the barrel automatically to the position shown inFigure 2. `In Figure 6 detent Elfi is shown placed in the lateral orlocking portion of slot 22; this position is reached by slightlyrotating barrel 15 relative to the mouthpiece 14 as described above. Thelocking position will be maintained when cigarette holder 11 is innormal use, i. e. when the smoker is certain that he will have no needfor the automatic cigarette retraction feature of the invention.

Figures 7-9 depict another embodiment of the invention wherein tl elocking detent 18 and slot structure 22 are replaced by a safety releasebutton 3i) which is depressed by the thumb or by one of the fingers ofthe user when the holder is in the smoking position. In this embodimentof the invention, smoke conducting tube 32 is attached at its outer endto cigarette receiving member 33 which in turn accommodates a cigarette16. Smoke conducting tube 32 is attached to mouthpiece 34 at theopposite end and thus extends within barrel 36. Compression spring 38surrounds cigarette receiving member 33 and is urged against outerportion 36a of barrel 36 and against inner portion 33a of cigarettereceiving member 33. Such ia spring may of course be used in the sameway Yin the structure or Figure 2 by suitably modifying the latter. Thesafety locking mechanism in Figure 7 is comprised of button 3i) whichvhas pin 31 passing through barrel 36, the pin being urged upwardly by acompression spring 41B and engaging sleeve 42 attached to smokeconducting tube 32. When in the safety smoking position button 3! isdepressed and pin .31 extends into the deeper hoie 41a of slot 41. InFigure 9 is shown the engagement of pin 31 in slot 41 of sleeve 42 whenin the smoking position.

Should button 30 rise, pin 31 is free to travel in the axial portion ofslot 41 the pin 31 being restrained `from disengagement with barrel 36by stop-member 31a on the end of pin 31. Barrel 36 then moves relativeto mouthpiece 34 and cigarette 16 is surrounded by the barrel. Byrotating the mouthpiece 34 relative to barrel 36, pin 31 may beaccommodated in the lateral portion of slot 41, thereby maintaining theholder in the locked or nonsmoking position.

Referring now to Figure 10, there is shown another embodiment of theinvention. Herein the safety cigarette holder is comprised of mouthpiece50 which is connected to smoke conducting tube and cigarette holdermember 52, the latter being surrounded by barrel S4. Safety lock member56, is attached to smoke conducting tube 52 at a point close to itsjunction with mouthpiece 50. At its opposite end, safety lock 4member 56is adapted to fit into a hole 57 in barrel 54. Normally, member 56 tendsto rise from hole 57 and permit a spring 53 (like spring 23 in Figure 3)to move barrel 54 away from mouthpiece .50. However, in use two fingersof the smoker maintain member 56 within the hole, thereby keeping theholder in the smoking position. Should the smoker become inattentive andremove either of his two fingers then lock member 56 is released and thecigarette is drawn within the barrel.Y One may also provide a non-safetylock for the embodiment of Figure l by having a bayonet slot toaccommodate member 56, similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 2.

In Figure ll is shown another modification of the invention, wherein theholder comprised of mouthpiece 50, barrel 54 and smoke conducting tube52 has a safety clutch member 58 attached to tube 52. instead ofengaging a hole as in Figure l0, clutch member S8 is flared upwardly atits free end 58a. The user grasps barrel 54 with a lower finger andplaces an upper finger against the aring end 58a of member 58. By thisarrangement the frictional action of the lower finger holds barrel 54 inthe smoking position. Upon a lessening of this friction, the spring (notshown but identical to spring 53 in Figure l0) urges barrel 54 away frommouthpiece 50.

Figure 12 shows another modification of the frictional principle.Mouthpiece 62 is attached to smoke conducting tube 65 which is providedwith at least one finger accommodating depression or valley 66. Barrel60 is also provided with at least one corresponding depression or valley68 so that a depression 66 is exposed. When smoking, the user simplyplaces his fingers in these valleys, thus serving to hold barrel 60close to mouthpiece '62. This arrangement also lends itself to severalpleasing decorative arrangements. As shown, detent 63 may be used to fitinto bayonet slot 64 should the safety features of the cigarette holderbe temporarily dispensed with. The internal structure within barrel 60includes a spring 61 (like spring 3S in Figure 7) which urges the barrelto the position shown relative to mouthpiece 62.

As is shown by the drawings, it is a feature of the invention to providea cigarette holder which is mechanically simple and yet which requiresthe exertion of slight conscious physical effort by the user to maintainthe cigarette outside the barrel while he is smoking the cigarette.Should the smokers vigilance relax or should he become drowsy, his handnaturally falls away from the flange of Figures 1-6, the button ofFigures 7-9, the lock or clutch of Figure l0 or l1, or the valleys ofFigure 12, thereby allowing the spring mechanism to move the barrel awayfrom the mouthpiece and withdraw the glowing cigarette to a position ofsafety against fire Within the barrel. It is to be noted that suchwithdrawal of a cigarette results in putting it out in about l2 seconds.

Although in the foregoing specification I have given various examples ofmy invention and have suggested certain modifications and alternatives,these are not intended to be exhaustive of my invention, but on thecontrary are selected and presented with a view to illustrating andexplaining the invention, the principles thereof and the best manner ofapplying it in practical use in order that others skilled in the art maybe enabled to practice the invention and apply it under variouscircumstances and in various ways, and with modifications each as may bebest suited to the conditions of a particular use.

What I claim is:

l. A safety cigarette holder comprising a mouthpiece, a hollow tubularmember fixed to said mouthpiece at one end and having a recessed portionat the other end adapted to hold a lighted cigarette, the length of saidtubular member being at least as long as an unused cigarette, a movablebarrel encircling said tubular member along its length, said tubularmember being adapted to slide lengthwise within said barrel between anextended position and a retracted position, cooperating limit means onsaid tubular member and said barrel providing a stop for said tubularmember in said extended position, said barrel projecting beyond therecessed end of said tubular member when said tubular member is in saidextended position and for a distance at least equal to the length of anunused cigarette, said tubular member being at least as long as saidbarrel, spring means acting to slide said member into extended position,and finger operated holding means having a released position and aholding position and adapted to be engaged by the user of said holderfor retention thereof in holding position to overcome the action of saidspring means and to hold said mouthpiece adjacent said barrel thuspermitting a lighted cigarette to extend freely from the recessed end ofsaid tubular member and not be encircled by said barrel, said fingeroperated holding means being normally biased to released position, saidbarrel and said tubular member sliding relative to each other to saidextended position under the action of said spring means when the userreleases said holding means.

2. A safety cigarette holder for automatically extinguishing a lightedcigarette when the person using the holder through inadvertence oraccident releases his grip on the holder, said holder comprising a smalldiameter barrel having a length at least as long as an unused cigaretteand having a slightly larger inside diameter, a tubular member adaptedto move axially within said barrel and having a mouthpiece at one endprojecting beyond said barrel and having cigarette holding means at theother end, limit means on said tubular member and said barrel comprisinga stop for preventing said barrel from sliding completely beyond thecigarette holding end of said tubular member, spring means for slidingsaid tubular member and said barrel apart to a stopped position whereinsaid barrel can extend well beyond the cigarette holding end of saidtubular member, the length of said barrel being such that when in saidstopped position it extends at least the length of an unused cigarettebeyond the cigarette holding end of said tubular member, said tubularmember being at least as long as said barrel, and safety means having aholding position and a released position, being normally biased towardreleased position and adapted when in holding position to hold saidbarrel and tubular member telescoped relative to each other away fromsaid stopped position and against the action of said spring means sothat a cigarette can extend beyond the cigarette holding end of saidtubular member without being surrounded by said barrel, said safetymeans being adapted to be held by the user in holding position while hesmokes a cigarette retained in said cigarette holding means.

3. The combination of elements as in claim 2 in which said safety meansincludes a shoulder member carried on said tubular member near saidmouthpiece and which is adapted to be held by a users finger against theend of said barrel.

4. The combination of elements as in claim 2 in which said safety meansincludes a member adapted to be grasped by the users finger to hold saidmouthpiece closely adjacent the end of said barrel and further includesa pin carried on said tubular member and engageable in a bayonet slot inthe end of said barrel into which said pin is adapted to slide and lockthereby to defeat the action of said spring means.

5. The combination of elements as in claim 2 in Which said safety meansincludes a pin carried by said barrel and engageable in a hole in saidtubular member adjacent said mouthpiece, said pin being spring urgedupward to released position.

6. The combination of elements as in claim 2 in which said safety meansincludes a cantilever spring secured at one end to said tubular memberadjacent said mouthpiece and extending axially toward the cigaretteholding end of said tubular member, said spring being engageable underthe force of a users finger in a recess in said barrel whereby saidtubular member and said barrel can be held in telescoped position.

7. The combination of elements as in claim 2 in which said safety meansincludes a scalloped ridge on said tubular member having a series ofdepressions along its length, and said barrel has a corresponding seriesof grooves so that a users finger can engage a mate-hing groove anddepression to hold said tubular member and said barrel telescopedrelative to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

